Judgment Day for Mubarak

Hello once again to all of my loyal readers. I apologize for being gone so long, but another project (and Star Wars Weekends at Walt Disney World) have taken up more of my time than I had anticipated. Anyway, back into the fray.

For those of you still following the situation in Egypt (which I hope would be the vast majority of you), you know that today is a significant event in modern Egyptian history. Ever since Egypt's former leader Hosni Mubarak was removed from power, his trial and its aftermath have been the topics of heated debate. Would Mubarak supporters in the government skew the result toward a light sentence, or would the revolutionary bloodlust of the populace scare the current leadership into executing the fallen dictator to appease the mob? Well, today we have our answer: Mubarak will serve a life sentence in prison for ordering his police and military to kill protesters.

Many people who suffered under Mubarak's regime, both before and during the uprisings, were glad to see what they considered a fair but properly harsh sentence. However, many more are furious that Mubarak was not executed for his crimes. The trial actually had to be halted at one point when a scuffle broke out between Mubarak supporters and relatives of Mubarak's victims (along with some of the prosecuting attorneys!). Mubarak himself listened to the verdict while on a hospital gurney that had been brought into the courtroom after receiving medical care while in prison awaiting the trial. After the verdict was read, more fighting began in the courtroom and spilled out into the streets. A wave of protests have begun, and by all indications they are just getting started.

So why does this matter? You can be sure that more than a few allies of the United States have been watching this situation with great interest. They are worried that, if similar protests erupt against their rule, the American government may abandon them just as quickly as it had Mubarak. These nations will try to make themselves more valuable allies to the United States in the short-term, but they will also begin to seriously cultivate relationships with other powers like China or Russia (both of whom have been skeptical of the charges against Syria's Assad) who would be willing to support them even if the United States will not. Also, these new protests are undoubtedly being organized with an eye toward influencing the upcoming Egyptian elections. The Muslim Brotherhood has much to gain and little to lose by stirring up resentment against former members of the Mubarak government.

And let us also not forget that Mubarak's life will be in danger until he finally succumbs to causes natural or otherwise. After all, Libya has already established a dangerous precedent in which a hated ex-leader is murdered in cold blood. Now that the people of Egypt feel they have been denied Allah's justice, they will seek to exact it themselves.